Automobile car body front construction and method of assembling car body front

ABSTRACT

In a front body structure of a vehicle and an assembling method of a front body of a vehicle, head-lamp units ( 6 ) disposed at both vehicular widthwise sides of a radiator core support panel ( 1 ), respectively, are made into movable structures positionally adjustable to front fenders ( 8 ), thereby allowing to attach the head-lamp units ( 6 ) to the front fenders ( 8 ) on the basis of the latter, respectively, and to uniformalize clearances, offset-amounts and the like in parting portions between the head-lamp units ( 6 ) and the front ends of the front fenders ( 8 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a front body structure of a vehicle andan assembling method of a front body of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, in order to simplify an assembling process of vehicular bodiesand to automatize the mounting operations, for example, it has beenproposed to mount head-lamp units, a front bumper and the like onto aradiator core support panel to thereby constitute a so-called front-endmodule as a sub-assembly, and to mount the front-end module onto a frontbody of a vehicle in a vehicular body assembling line (see JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open Publication Nos. H11-20543 and H11-48856).

However, it is probable that the clearances, offset-amounts and the likein parting portions between the head-lamp units and the front ends offront fenders become non-uniform to thereby deteriorate the externalappearance, such as due to a cumulation of mounting precision errorsbetween the radiator core support panel and the front side members andfront fenders, and of mounting precision errors between the radiatorcore support panel and the head-lamp units.

From such a standpoint, it is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide a front body structure of a vehicle and anassembling method of a front body of a vehicle, without any non-uniformclearances and non-uniform offset-amounts in parting portions betweenhead-lamp units and front ends of front fenders, thereby enabling tofurther improve the external appearance.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides in oneaspect a front body structure of a vehicle, comprising: a radiator coresupport panel; and head-lamp units mounted at both vehicular widthwisesides of the radiator core support panel, respectively; wherein theradiator core support panel is coupled to front fenders and front sidemembers; and wherein the head-lamp units are made into movablestructures positionally adjustable to the front fenders, respectively.

According to such a constitution, the head-lamp units can bepositionally adjusted to and attached to the front fenders on the basisof the latter, respectively, thereby enabling to uniformalize theclearances and offset-amounts in parting portions between the head-lampunits and the front ends of the front fenders, respectively, to therebyfurther improve the external appearance.

It is preferable to provide such a constitution that the radiator coresupport panel is divided into an upper member and a lower member, theupper member having both vehicular widthwise sides mounted with thehead-lamp units, respectively, and the lower member being coupled tofront ends of the front side members; and that the upper member and thelower member are coupled to each other pivotably in a vehicularfore-and-aft direction.

According to such a constitution, it becomes possible to deal with asituation for changing a vehicular body design while commonizing aplatform, by modifying a formation-related upper member of a radiatorcore support panel, thereby allowing to exemplarily achieve a reducedcost and an improved development efficiency.

It is more preferable to provide such a constitution that the front bodystructure of a vehicle further comprises a front bumper mounted to theupper member.

According to such a constitution, the head-lamp units and front bumperare allowed to be integrally made into the movable structure, therebymaking it unnecessary to adjust clearances and the like between thehead-lamp units and front bumper, to thereby enable to improve anattaching operability.

It is further preferable to provide such a constitution that theradiator core support panel comprises a main portion and side portionsat both vehicular widthwise sides of the main portion; that the sideportions are constituted dividedly from the main portion and mountedwith the head-lamp units, respectively; and that the side portions arecoupled to the main portion pivotably in the vehicular widthwisedirection and slidably in the vehicular fore-and-aft direction.

According to such a constitution, the side portions of the radiator coresupport panel are moved and adjusted to allow the right and lefthead-lamp units to be independently and positionally adjustedcorrespondingly to the front ends of the right and left front fenders,respectively, thereby enabling to enhance the aligning qualities of thehead-lamp units with the front fenders, respectively.

It is additionally preferable to provide such a constitution that thehead-lamp units include vehicular widthwise inside portions,respectively, coupled to the radiator core support panel, pivotably inthe vehicular widthwise direction and slidably in the vehicularfore-and-aft direction; and that the head-lamp units include vehicularwidthwise outside portions provided with coupling portions to the frontfenders, respectively.

According to such a constitution, the right and left head-lamp unitsthemselves can be further independently and positionally adjustedcorrespondingly to the front ends of the right and left front fenders,respectively, thereby enabling to enhance the aligning qualities of thehead-lamp units with the front fenders, respectively.

It is further preferable to provide such a constitution that thecoupling portions of the head-lamp units at the vehicular widthwiseinside portions thereof to the radiator core support panel are providedwith attaching points, respectively, for a bumper facer of a frontbumper.

According to such a constitution, the necessity of clearance adjustmentand the like between the bumper facer of the front bumper and thehead-lamp units can be excluded, to thereby improve the attachingoperability.

It is preferable to provide such a constitution that the front bodystructure of a vehicle further comprises upper coupling points and lowercoupling points of the radiator core support panel to the front fenders;and that the upper coupling points are provided at vehicular widthwiseoutside portions of the head-lamp units, respectively.

According to such a constitution, the head-lamp units act as the uppercoupling means of the radiator core support panel to the front fenders,thereby allowing to simplify the structure of the radiator core supportpanel.

Furthermore, the formation of both vehicular widthwise sides of theradiator core support panel is liberated from the formation of thehead-lamp units, thereby enabling to readily deal with the formationdifference of the head-lamp units and to standardize and commonize theradiator core support panel.

On the other hand, the present invention provides in another aspect anassembling method of a front body of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:coupling a radiator core support panel to front end portions of frontside members; moving head-lamp units mounted on the radiator coresupport panel relative to front fenders, to thereby aligningly adjustthe head-lamp units to the front fenders, respectively; and coupling theradiator core support panel to the front fenders.

According to such a constitution, the head-lamp units can bepositionally adjusted to and attached to the front fenders on the basisof the latter, respectively, thereby allowing to exemplarilyuniformalize the clearances and offset-amounts in parting portionsbetween the head-lamp units and the front ends of the front fenders,respectively, to thereby further improve the external appearance.

The present invention provides in yet another aspect an assemblingmethod of a front body of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: releasingtemporary fixation of head-lamp units to thereby render the head-lampunits movable, the head-lamp units having been mounted on both vehicularwidthwise sides of a radiator core support panel in a manner pivotabletoward vehicular widthwise insides about vehicular widthwise innercoupling points of the head-lamp units and having been temporarily fixedto pedestal members provided at both vehicular widthwise sides of theradiator core support panel, respectively; coupling the radiator coresupport panel to front end portions of front side members; moving thehead-lamp units toward front fenders with pivotal movements of thehead-lamp units about the coupling points to thereby aligningly adjustthe head-lamp units to the front fenders, respectively; and coupling theradiator core support panel together with the head-lamp units, to thefront fenders.

According to such a constitution, the head-lamp units are temporarilyfixed to the pedestal members provided on the radiator core supportpanel to enable to restrict the free movements of the head-lamp units,respectively, while the temporary fixation of the head-lamp units to thepedestal members may be released to thereby enable to aligningly adjustthe head-lamp units to the front fenders about the coupling points asfulcra of the head-lamp units, respectively.

Thus, the head-lamp unit are assuredly fixed to thereby enable to avoidan unstable state when the radiator core support panel and head-lampunits in the state of a sub-assembly are transported to a vehicular bodyassembling line, while the temporary fixation of the head-lamp units isreleased in the assembling line to thereby enable to precisely mount thehead-lamp units to the front fenders by virtue of the inherently movablestructures of the head-lamp units, respectively.

The present invention further provides in still another aspect anassembling method of a front body of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:pivoting head-lamp units mounted on both vehicular widthwise sides of aradiator core support panel toward vehicular widthwise insides aboutvehicular widthwise inner coupling points of the head-lamp units,respectively; abutting and coupling the radiator core support panel tofront ends of front side members from the vehicular front, to therebyarrange the head-lamp units at positions inside the front fenders,respectively; moving the head-lamp units toward front fenders withpivotal movements of the head-lamp units about the coupling points tothereby aligningly adjust the head-lamp units to the front fenders,respectively; and coupling the radiator core support panel together withthe head-lamp units, to the front fenders.

According to such a constitution, the head-lamp units can bepositionally adjusted to and attached to the front fenders on the basisof the latter, respectively, thereby enabling to uniformalize theclearances and offset-amounts in parting portions between the head-lampunits and the front ends of the front fenders, respectively.

Further, it becomes possible to avoid interference of the head-lampunits with the front fenders upon abutting the radiator core supportpanel to the front ends of the front side members from the vehicularfront, thereby allowing to further facilitate the mounting operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a third embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a fourth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a sixth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7A is a view showing a radiator core support panel 1 beforecoupling a pedestal member thereto in the sixth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7B is a view showing the pedestal member before coupled to theradiator core support panel in the sixth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in the course of couplingthe pedestal member of FIG. 7B to the radiator core support panel ofFIG. 7A;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in the course of couplingthe pedestal member of FIG. 7B to the radiator core support panel ofFIG. 7A subsequently to the state of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are schematic cross-sectional views of a head-lampunit successively showing a head-lamp unit attaching process in thecorresponding embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

There will be explained hereinafter the embodiments of the presentinvention with reference to the accompanying drawings, so as to describethe present invention in more detail. In the following description,those identical elements are designated by the same reference numerals,respectively, and the detailed explanation thereof shall be dulysimplified or omitted.

First Embodiment

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates a radiator core support panelmade of a plastic material and constituting a frontmost part of avehicular body (i.e., front end of vehicular body), and this panel 1comprises: an upper rail 2 and a first cross-member 3 arranged one abovethe other, and both extending in a vehicular widthwise direction; pillarportions 4 for interconnecting the upper rail 2 and first cross-member 3at both vehicular widthwise sides thereof, respectively; and sideportions 5 bulgedly provided at the vehicular widthwise outsides of thepillar portions 4, respectively, so as to mount head-lamp units 6 ontothe side portions 5 themselves, respectively.

Each side portion 5 comprises an upper frame 5 a formed integrally withand as an extension of the upper rail 2, a lower frame 5 b laterallybulged from and provided integrally with the pillar portion 4, and aside frame 5 c for interconnecting the upper frame 5 a and lower frame 5b, such that each side portion 5 is bently formed toward a rearwarddirection of the vehicular body from the upper rail 2 and pillar portion4.

Each interconnecting portion between the first cross-member 3 and pillarportion 4 has a vehicular widthwise outer corner portion integrallyformed with a fastening seat portion 7.

The radiator core support panel 1 constitutes a front end portion of thevehicular body, by abutting and bolt-fastening each fastening seatportion 7 to a front end of an associated front side member SB acting asa frame member extending in a vehicular fore-and-aft direction joined toand arranged under a lower side of a hood ridge panel (not shown), byfastening by a bolt 17 a rear end portion of the upper frame 5 a of eachside portion 5 as the extension of the upper rail 2 to a front endportion of an upper flange 8 a of an associated front fender 8 joinedand fixed to an upper edge of the hood ridge panel, and by fasteningeach lower frame 5 b to a front end portion of a lower flange 8 b of thefront fender 8 by a bolt 18 through a seat portion 9 formed integrallywith a rear outside of the lower frame 5 b.

Each head-lamp unit 6 is made into a movable structure positionallyadjustable to the front end of the associated front fender 8.

In this embodiment, each head-lamp unit 6 is made into the movablestructure positionally adjustable to the front end of the associatedfront fender 8, by dividing the radiator core support panel 1 into anupper member 1U and a lower member 1L one above the other at verticalintermediate portions of the pillar portions 4, respectively, and bycoupling the upper member 1U to the lower member 1L pivotably in thevehicular fore-and-aft direction, while attaching the lower member 1L tothe front side members on the basis of the latter and attaching thehead-lamp units 6 to the front ends of the front fenders 8,respectively, on the basis of the latter.

Concretely, the upper member 1U is integrally formed of the upper rail2, upper portions 4 a of the pillar portions 4 and the side portions 5such as by injection molding, while the lower member 1L is integrallyformed of the first cross-member 3, lower portions 4 b of the pillarportions 4, and the fastening seat portions 7 such as by injectionmolding.

The upper portion 4 a of each pillar portion 4 has a rearwardly openedchannel-like “C” shape cross section at least at its lower end, and thislower end of each upper portion 4 a is fitted onto an upper end of theassociated lower portion 4 b in such a manner that the upper end of theassociated lower portion 4 b is positioned inside the lower end of eachupper portion 4 a. In this state, the lower end of each upper portion 4a and the upper end of the associated lower portion 4 b are coupledtogether by pins 10 provided in the vehicular widthwise direction, sothat the upper member 1U and lower member 1L are pivotable to each otherin the vehicular fore-and-aft direction.

In this embodiment, each head-lamp unit 6 is firmly fastened to theassociated upper frame 5 a and lower frame 6 b by bolts 16 through upperand lower bracket pieces 11 (lower bracket pieces are not shown),respectively, such that a bolt through-hole 12 at the rear end portionof each upper frame 5 a to be fastened to the front end portion of theassociated front fender 8 is established as a so-called clearance holehaving a diameter larger than that of the bolt 17, thereby enabling tocompensate for a deviation upon attaching adjustment.

In this embodiment, laterally formed across the upper portions 4 a ofthe right and left pillar portions 4 and up to around the lower frames 5b of side portions 5 is an armature portion 13 a of a front bumper 13,integrally with the portions 4 and frames 5 b. Vertically formed acrossvehicular widthwise central portions of the upper rail 2 and armatureportion 13 a is a hood lock stay 14 integrally with these centralportions.

The radiator core support panel 1 having such a constitution isdelivered into a vehicular body assembling line by previously fasteningand fixing the head-lamp units 6 to the side portions 5 of the uppermember 1U, respectively, via bracket pieces 11 as described above, andis abutted to and coupled to a front body of a vehicle from the frontthereof in the vehicular body assembling line.

Concretely, the fastening seat portions 7 of the lower member 1L areabutted to the front ends of the front side members, respectively, andbolt-fastened to the front side members on the basis of the same.

Then, the upper member 1U is pivoted in the vehicular fore-and-aftdirection about the pins 10, and the head-lamp units 6 are positionallyadjusted relative to the front ends of the front fenders 8 so as toalign the peripheries of the head-lamp units 6 with the peripheries offront ends of the front fenders 8, respectively. Thereafter, the outerseat portions 9 of the lower frames 5 b of the side portions 5 areoverlapped with lower surfaces of front end portions of the lowerflanges 8 b of the front fenders 8 and fastened thereto by the bolts 18,respectively, and the rear end portions of the upper frames 5 a areoverlapped with front end portions of the upper flanges 8 a of the frontfenders 8 and fastened thereto by the bolts 17, respectively, to therebyattach the upper member 1U to the front end portions of the frontfenders 8 on the basis of the latter.

At this time, those deviations of the rear end portions of the upperframes 5 a from the upper flanges 8 a of the front fenders 8 which areaccompanying to the positional adjustment of the head-lamp units 6 arecompensated for by the bolt through-holes 12 as clearance holes,respectively.

According to the structure of this embodiment as described above, thehead-lamp units 6 can be positionally adjusted to and attached to thefront fenders 8 on the basis of the latter, respectively, therebyallowing to exemplarily uniformalize the clearances and offset-amountsin parting portions between the head-lamp units 6 and the front ends ofthe front fenders 8, respectively, to thereby further improve theexternal appearance.

Particularly, in this embodiment, the head-lamp units 6 are made intomovable structures relative to the front fenders 8 such that thehead-lamp units 6 can be positionally adjusted relative to the frontends of the front fenders 8, respectively, by dividing the radiator coresupport panel 1 into the upper member 1U and lower member 1L one abovethe other in which the upper member 1U has the side portions 5 mountedwith the head-lamp units 6, respectively, and by coupling the uppermember 1U and lower member 1L to each other pivotably in the vehicularfore-and-aft direction. This enables to deal with a situation forchanging a vehicular body design while commonizing a platform, bymodifying a formation-related upper member 1U of a radiator core supportpanel 1, thereby allowing to exemplarily achieve a reduced cost and animproved development efficiency.

Further, since the upper member 1U is formed integrally with thearmature portion 13 a of the front bumper 13 which is to be attachedwith a bumper facer (not shown), the head-lamp units 6 and front bumper13 are allowed to be integrally made into the movable structure. Thus,adjustingly attaching the head-lamp units 6 to the front bumper 13 in asub-assembly step makes it unnecessary to adjust clearances and the likebetween the head-lamp units 6 and front bumper 13 after mounting of theradiator core support panel 1 in a vehicular body assembling line,thereby enabling to improve an attaching operability.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention including aradiator core support panel 1 divided into: a main portion 1M comprisingan upper rail 2, a first cross-member 3, pillar portions 4, fasteningseat portions 7, and a hood lock stay 14, which are formed integrallywith one another such as by injection molding; and side portions 5integrally formed themselves such as by injection molding, and coupledto the main portion 1M pivotably in the vehicular widthwise directionand slidably in the vehicular fore-and-aft direction.

In this embodiment, the hood lock stay 14 is vertically formed acrossand integrally with vehicular widthwise central portions of the upperrail 2 and first cross-member 3.

The main portion 1M is integrally formed with a pair of upper and lowerbracket supporting seats 21 at an upper side surface of each pillarportion 4, while each side portion 5 has a coupling base 5 d positionedat a vehicular widthwise inside of the side portion 5 itself andprovided with a pair of upper and lower brackets 22, such that thesebrackets 22 are coupled to the bracket supporting seats 21 via pins 23,respectively, so that each side portion 5 is mounted pivotably in thevehicular widthwise direction.

The brackets 22 have pin through-holes 24 formed as fore-and-aftelongated holes, respectively, and these elongated holes allow theassociated side portion 5 to be slidable in the vehicular fore-and-aftdirection relative to the main portion 1M.

Identically to the first embodiment, each head-lamp unit 6 is previouslyfastened to an upper frame 5 a and a lower frame 5 b of the associatedside portion 5 by bolts 16 via bracket pieces 11, respectively.

In this second embodiment, the main portion 1M of the radiator coresupport panel 1 is bolt-fastened to front side members on the basis ofthe latter, by abutting the fastening seat portions 7 of the mainportion 1M to the front ends of the front side members, respectively.

Then, each side portion 5 is pivoted in the vehicular widthwisedirection about the associated pin 23 and slid in the vehicularfore-and-aft direction within the elongated range of the pinthrough-holes 24 of the associated brackets 22, so as to positionallyadjust the associated head-lamp unit 6 relative to the front end of anassociated front fender 8, thereby aligning the periphery of thehead-lamp unit 6 with the front end periphery of the front fender 8.

The alignment of the periphery of each head-lamp unit 6 with the frontend periphery of the associated front fender 8 directly leads to thealignment of a bolt through-hole 12 at the rear end portion of the upperframe 5 a with a bolt through-hole 12 a at a front end portion of anupper flange 8 a of the front fender 8, and leads to the alignment of adue bolt through-hole 15 of a seat portion 9 of the lower frame 5 b witha bolt through-hole 15 a at the front end portion of a lower flange 8 bof the front fender 8. Thus, each side portion 5 is attached andbolt-fastened to the front end portion of the associated front fender 8on the basis of this front end portion by inserting bolts 17, 18 throughthe above-mentioned bolt through-holes, respectively, thereby enablingto exemplarily uniformalize clearances and offset-amounts in a partingportion between the head-lamp unit 6 and front fender 8.

To this end, the bolt through-hole 12 at the rear end portion of eachupper frame 5 a is formed not into a clearance hole but into a holehaving a diameter fitted to the outer diameter of the associated bolt17, in this embodiment.

In this way, the structure of the second embodiment makes the sideportions 5 of the radiator core support panel 1 into movable structuresin which these side portions 5 are moved and adjusted to allow the rightand left head-lamp units 6 to be independently and positionally adjustedcorrespondingly to the front ends of the right and left front fenders 8,respectively, thereby enabling to enhance the aligning qualities of thehead-lamp units 6 with the front ends of the front fenders 8,respectively.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention including aradiator core support panel 1 integrally formed of an upper rail 2, afirst cross-member 3, pillar portions 4, side portions 5, fastening seatportions 7 and a hood lock stay 14 such as by injection molding, andeach side portion 5 is movably mounted with a head-lamp unit 6.

Also in this embodiment, the hood lock stay 14 is vertically formedacross and integrally with vehicular widthwise central portions of theupper rail 2 and first cross-member 3.

Each side portion 5 comprises an upper frame 5 a and a lower frame 5 bhaving forming bases at vehicular widthwise insides thereof integrallyformed with bracket supporting seats 25, respectively, while eachhead-lamp unit 6 includes a vehicular widthwise inside portionprotrudedly provided with a pair of upper and lower brackets 26, suchthat these brackets 26 are coupled to the bracket supporting seats 25via pins 27, respectively, thereby mounting each head-lamp unit 6 to theassociated side portion 5 pivotably in the vehicular widthwisedirection.

The brackets 26 include pin through-holes 28 formed as fore-and-aftelongated holes, respectively, and these elongated holes allow theassociated head-lamp unit 6 to be slidable in the vehicular fore-and-aftdirection relative to the associated side portion 5.

Further, provided at an upper edge portion of a vehicular widthwiseoutside portion of each head-lamp unit 6 is a bracket piece 11A as acoupling portion for the associated front fender 8, and formed at thefront end portion of an upper flange 8 a of each front fender 8 is abolt through-hole 12 a as well as a bolt through-hole 29 a adjacent to afront side of the bolt through-hole 12 a, such that the bracket piece11A is bolt-fastened directly to the associated upper flange 8 a byaligning a bolt through-hole 29 of the bracket piece 11A with the boltthrough-hole 29 a of the upper flange 8 a and by inserting a bolt 16through these bolt through-holes.

In this embodiment, the lower one of the pair of upper and lowerbrackets 26, 26 provided at the vehicular widthwise inside portion ofeach head-lamp unit 6 is formed with a setting hole 31 as an attachingpoint of a bumper facer (not shown) of a front bumper, so that thebumper facer is attached via setting holes 31.

In this third embodiment, the radiator core support panel 1 isbolt-fastened to the front side members by abutting the fastening seatportions 7 to the front ends of the front side members, respectively,and the rear end portions of the upper frames 5 a of the side portions 5are overlapped with upper surfaces of the upper flanges 8 a and the seatportions 9 of lower frames 5 b are overlapped with lower surfaces oflower flanges 8 b of the front fenders 8 and fastened by the bolts 17,18, respectively, so that the radiator core support panel 1 is attachedto the front side members and front fenders 8 on the basis of thesemembers and fenders.

Further, each head-lamp unit 6 is pivoted in the vehicular widthwisedirection about the associated pin 27 and is slid in the vehicularfore-and-aft direction within the elongated range of the pinthrough-holes 28 of the associated brackets 26, and the head-lamp unit 6is positionally adjusted relative to the front end of the associatedfront fender 8, thereby aligning the periphery of the head-lamp unit 6with the front end periphery of the front fender 8.

The alignment of the periphery of the head-lamp unit 6 with the frontend periphery of the associated front fender 8 directly leads to thealignment of the bolt through-hole 29 of the bracket piece 11A providedat the upper edge of the vehicular widthwise outside portion of thehead-lamp unit 6 with the bolt through-hole 29 a of the upper flange 8 aof the front fender 8, so that the head-lamp unit 6 can be attached andbolt-fastened to the front end portion of the front fender 8 on thebasis of the latter by inserting the bolt 16 through these boltthrough-holes 29, 29 a, thereby allowing to obtain the same effect asthe second embodiment.

Further, in this embodiment, the bumper facer of the front bumper ispreviously attached to the attaching points 31 of the brackets 26 of thehead-lamp units 6, thereby exemplarily excluding the necessity ofclearance adjustment between the bumper facer and the head-lamp units 6,to thereby improve the attaching operability.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, which omitsthe upper frame 5 a and side frame 5 c of the side portion 5 in thethird embodiment, while the upper coupling point and lower couplingpoint of the radiator core support panel 1 relative to the associatedfront fender 8 are constituted of a seat portion 9 of a lower frame 5 band a bracket piece 11A provided at a vehicular widthwise outsideportion of each head-lamp unit 6, so that the head-lamp unit 6 also actsas upper coupling means of the radiator core support panel 1 to thefront fender 8.

This embodiment includes a bumper facer of a type different from that inthe third embodiment, so that each head-lamp unit 6 includes an upperbracket 26 provided with a setting hole 31 by which the bumper facer isattached.

Thus, the structure of the fourth embodiment allows to obtain the sameeffect as the third embodiment. Further, since each head-lamp unit 6also acts as the upper coupling means of the radiator core support panel1 to the front fender 8 as described above, the upper frame 5 a and sideframe 5 c of the associated side portion 5 can be omitted, therebyallowing to simplify the structure of the radiator core support panel 1.

Furthermore, since the upper frame 5 a and side frame 5 c of each sideportion 5 can be omitted, the formation of each side portion 5 isliberated from the formation of the associated head-lamp unit 6, therebyenabling to readily deal with the formation difference of the head-lampunit 6 and to standardize and commonize the radiator core support panel1.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, whicheffectively utilizes the lower frame 5 b of each side portion 5 in thefourth embodiment shown in FIG. 4 as a pedestal member for supportingthe associated head-lamp unit 6 in a manner to temporarily fix thehead-lamp unit 6 onto the pedestal member 5 b.

Each pedestal member 5 b includes a seat portion 9 at its vehicularwidthwise outer end and is formed with a bolt through-hole 32 near theseat portion 9, while the associated head-lamp unit 6 includes a lowersurface protrudedly provided with a temporary holding bracket 33 at aposition corresponding to the bolt through-hole 32.

Further, each head-lamp unit 6 is temporarily fixed onto the associatedpedestal member 5 b by fastening a bolt 34 to the temporary holdingbracket 33 through the bolt through-hole 32 of the pedestal member 5 b,after the head-lamp unit 6 is mounted to the side portion 5 pivotably inthe vehicular widthwise direction by coupling a bracket 26 of thehead-lamp unit 6 to a bracket supporting seat 25 of the side portion 5as described above.

In the fifth embodiment, before the radiator core support panel 1 isabutted and bolt-fastened to front ends of front side members or aftersuch bolt-fastening, each bolt 34 is unthreaded to release the temporaryfixation and to enable to move the head-lamp unit 6, and then the abovedescribed aligning adjustment of each head-lamp unit 6 to the associatedfront fender 8 is conducted to thereby fasten and attach the bracketpiece 11A and seat portion 9 to the front fender 8.

Thus, the fifth embodiment allows to obtain the same effect as thefourth embodiment. Further, each head-lamp unit 6 is temporarily fixedto the associated pedestal member 5 b to enable to restrict the freemovement of the head-lamp unit 6 and to prevent an unstable state whenthe bracket piece 11 and head-lamp units 6 in the state of asub-assembly are transported to a vehicular body assembling line,thereby allowing to avoid an occurrence of defects such as breakage dueto the free movement of the head-lamp units 6 during transportation, andallowing to stably hold the head-lamp units 6 at an initial stage ofmounting the radiator core support panel 1 to a front body of a vehicle,thereby enabling to improve the mounting operability.

Sixth Embodiment

FIGS. 6 through 9 show a sixth embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the pedestal member (lower frame 5 b of each side portion 5) inthe fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is formed separately from theradiator core support panel 1.

The vehicular widthwise inner end of each pedestal member 5 b isintegrally formed with the lower one of the pair of upper and lowerbracket supporting seats 25 in the fourth embodiment and fifthembodiment, and the pedestal member 5 b has its distal portionprotrudedly provided with a bracket 35 in a “T” shape in plan view.

Meanwhile, each pillar portion 4 of the radiator core support panel 1 isformed with a vertically elongated slit 36 through which the associated“T” shape bracket 35 is insertable such that the pedestal member 5 b isrotatable by a neck portion 35 b of a fixing portion 35 a of the bracket35, and the pillar portion 4 is formed with attaching holes 37 atrequired height positions forwardly and rearwardly of the slit 36,respectively.

As shown in FIG. 8, each pedestal member 5 b is vertically oriented andits “T” shape bracket 35 is inserted into the associated slit 36, andthen the pedestal member 5 b is rotated into a substantially horizontalnormal state about the neck portion 35 b as shown in FIG. 9. In thisstate, the fixing portion 35 a of the “T” shape bracket 35 is engagedwith and restrained by an inner surface of the pillar portion 4, so thatthe pedestal member 5 b can be attached to the radiator core supportpanel 1 by sliding the pedestal member 5 b along the slit 36 up to arequired certain height position where the attaching holes 37 arelocated, and by thereafter fastening and fixing the bracket 35 to thepillar portion 4 by bolts 38 through the attaching holes 37,respectively.

Thus, the structure of the sixth embodiment allows to obtain the sameeffect as the fifth embodiment. Further, since the laterally protrudedpedestal members 5 b are absent upon injection molding the radiator coresupport panel 1, the forming performance can be of course improved,while the outer package shape of the radiator core support panel 1 canbe downsized upon transporting the same at a stage before the head-lampunits 6 are mounted to the panel 1 into a state of a sub-assembly,thereby allowing to improve the transporting performance of the panel 1.

Meantime, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the pivotcenter point of each head-lamp unit 6, i.e., the position of theassociated pin 23 or 27 is located as inside as possible in thevehicular widthwise direction to thereby increase the pivot radius ofthe head-lamp unit 6, so that the moving direction of a vehicularwidthwise outer edge portion of the head-lamp unit 6 becomes linear,thereby enabling to facilitate to compensate for errors of the head-lampunit 6 relative to the front end of the associated front fender 8.

Additionally, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, eachhead-lamp unit 6 may be previously pivoted toward a vehicular widthwiseinside about the associated pin 23 or 27 such as shown in FIG. 10A, uponmounting the radiator core support panel 1 to the front side members andfront fenders 8. This enables to avoid interference of each head-lampunit 6 with the associated front fender 8 upon abutting the radiatorcore support panel 1 to the front ends of the front side members fromthe vehicular front, and enables to pivot the head-lamp unit 6 towardthe vehicular widthwise outside about the pin 23 or 27 as shown in FIG.10B, thereby allowing to further facilitate the mounting operation.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention as described above, the head-lampunits disposed at both vehicular widthwise sides of the radiator coresupport panel, respectively, are made into the movable structurespositionally adjustable to the front fenders, thereby allowing to attachthe head-lamp units to the front fenders on the basis of the latter,respectively, and to uniformalize clearances, of set-amounts and thelike in parting portions between the head-lamp units and the front endsof the front fenders, respectively. There can be thus expected a broaderapplicable scope of the present invention, in addition to the time ofassembling a vehicle.

1. A front body structure of a vehicle, comprising: a radiator coresupport panel including a movable structure member; and head-lamp unitsmounted on said movable structural member at both vehicular widthwisesides and said radiator core support panel, respectively, wherein saidradiator core support panel is coupled to front fenders and front sidemembers, and wherein said head-lamp units are positionally adjustable tosaid front fenders to aligningly adjust relation between said head-lampunits and said front fenders while moving at least in a vehicularwidthwise direction and a vehicular fore-and-aft direction through saidmovable structural member of said radiator core support panel,positional relation between said head-lamp units and said movablestructural member being maintained, respectively.
 2. The front bodystructure of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said radiator coresupport panel is divided into an upper member and a lower member, saidupper member having both vehicular widthwise sides mounted with saidhead-lamp units, respectively, and said lower member being coupled tofront ends and said front side members, and wherein said upper memberand said lower member are coupled to each other pivotably in saidvehicular fore-and-aft direction to allow said upper member toconstitute said movable member.
 3. The front body structure of a vehicleaccording to claim 2, further comprising a front bumper mounted to saidupper member.
 4. The front body structure of a vehicle according toclaim 1, wherein said radiator core support panel includes side portionsat both vehicular widthwise sides thereof to constitute said movablemember, wherein said portions are mounted with said head-lamp units,respectively, and wherein said side portions are movable pivotably inthe vehicular widthwise direction and slidably in the vehicularfore-and-aft direction.
 5. The front body structure of a vehicleaccording to claim 1, wherein said head-lamp units include vehicularwidthwise inside portions, respectively, coupled to said radiator coresupport panel, and wherein said head-lamp units include vehicularwidthwise outside portions provided with coupling portions toward saidfront fenders, respectively.
 6. The front body structure of a vehicleaccording to 5, wherein said coupling portions of said head-lamp unitsat the vehicular widthwise inside portions thereof to said radiator coresupport panel are provided with attaching points, respectively, for abumper facer of a front bumper.
 7. The front body structure of a vehicleaccording to 5, further comprising upper coupling points and lowercoupling points of said radiator core support panel to said frontfenders, wherein said upper coupling points are provided at vehicularwidthwise outside portions of said head-lamp units, respectively.
 8. Anassembling method of a front body of a vehicle, comprising: coupling aradiator core support panel to front end portions of front side members;said radiator core support panel including a movable structural memberand head-lamp units are mounted on said movable structural member atboth vehicular widthwise sides of said radiator core support panel,respectively; moving head-lamp units relative to front fenders, tothereby aligningly adjust relation between said head-lamp units and saidfront fenders while moving at least in a vehicular widthwise directionand a vehicular fore-and-aft direction through said movable structuralmember of said radiator core support panel, respectively, positionalrelation between said head-lamp units and said movable structural memberbeing maintained; and coupling said radiator core support panel to saidfront fenders.
 9. The assembling method of a front body of a vehicleaccording to claim 8, further comprising: temporarily fixing saidhead-lamp units to pedestal members provided at both vehicular widthwisesides of said radiator core support panel respectively, releasingtemporary fixation of said head-lamp units to thereby render saidhead-lamp units movable, respectively, and coupling said radiator coresupport panel to said front end portions of said front side membersafter releasing said temporary fixation.
 10. The assembling method of afront body of a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said head-lampunits are aligningly adjusted while pivoting said head-lamp unitsmounted on both vehicular widthwise sides of said radiator core supportpanel toward vehicular widthwise insides about vehicular widthwise innercoupling points of said head-lamp units, respectively.
 11. Theassembling method of a front body of a vehicle according to claim 8,wherein said radiator core support panel is divided into an upper memberand a lower member, said upper member having both vehicular widthwisesides mounted with said head-lamp units, respectively, and wherein saidhead-lamp units are aligningly adjusted while moving said head-lampunits mounted on said upper member pivotally in said vehicularfore-and-aft direction.